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Kate Storms, Lynette Cabrera are top finishers in Pet Poetry Contest

Top photo: Kate Storms won first place in the Pet Poetry Contest hosted by Peace of Mind Pet Sitting. Bottom photo: Lynette Cabrera won second place.

— image credit: AC Photography

Kate Storms won first place and Lynette Cabrera won second place in the Pet Poetry Contest hosted by Peace of Mind Pet Sitting.

Storms received a total prize package valued at $375; Cabrera received a total prize package valued at $175.

"I want to thank everyone — countywide — who entered their wonderful poetry and came out to the Open Mic/reading. It was fun to hear everyone," said coordinator Jaileen Panger, a member of Pet Sitters International.

"And I of course would like to thank all the local businesses who donated their fantastic products and services, and those off-island as well. It could not have happened without you."

the first time we met you ran from mefar and fastit took three volunteers and I chasing around the shelterflapping our handsclucking our tonguescooing like mamasto lure you back

the drive home was three hoursand you cried the whole waymaking me feel like some sort of abuserwho traps adorable puppiesand makes them take extended road trips

I took it terribly personallyand almost wept myselfthinking I had made an awful mistakea stupid girl who could barely take care of herselfroping a helpless rescue dog into her crazy

I sang to you and you yelped louderI talked to you and you tried to break free of the plastic blue crateI pleaded with you and you barked in rebellionuntil I was sure my heart would crack openand we would both fall in the ensuing crevice

eventually I turned on the BBC stationby then it was late and I needed the radio to keep me alertwhether it was the cricket scores or the steady, sweet cadence of the host's voiceI have no idea why and howbut both of us pulled it togethermaybe it's because there is something soul-quietingabout driving through a dark desertwhile listening to the British morning news GMT

I'm so glad we're the same in that way

and every timefor the rest of my lifethat I hear them whipping around,signing off from Paris, Buenos Aires, Marrakesh and Warsawhot happy tears bubble upremembering that first night and peace between us

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